Feb 17
12
THE BIG QUESTION
Many years ago I began asking the question, “Why is it that some people are more successful than others?”
The most important answer surprised me, as it surprises most people. It is simple. Your success is based on what you do, the results you get, and how quickly and efficiently you achieve those results. It is not based on what you say, wish, hope, or intend to do at some time in the future. Success is only based on what you are doing right now in this moment. As Henry Ford said, “You can’t build a reputation on what you’re going to do.”
THE MOST VALUABLE ASSET
What is your most valuable asset? According to the Harvard Business School, it is your reputation. Your most valuable asset is what people say about you. In fact, it is everything. Think about companies like Apple and Google. Their reputations are so excellent that they are world leaders in the products and services they offer.
GETTING THINGS DONE
The most important part of your reputation is your ability to start and complete important tasks, to get things done, and to be known for speed and dependability. This will do more to make your happiness, health, success, and wealth than any other facet of your reputation that you can develop.
WHAT IS YOUR MAIN GOAL IN LIFE? According to Aristotle, behind every goal there is another goal until you finally reach the main goal, which is to be happy. Everything you do is an attempt, successful or not, to achieve happiness in some way. In fact, you can measure your level of success by what percentage of time you are genuinely a happy person. This is more important than all the money and accomplishments in the world.
THE ACHIEVEMENT OF HAPPINESS
How do you achieve happiness?
In its simplest terms, happiness is the progressive realization of a worthy goal or ideal. It is only when you feel that you are moving step by step toward the accomplishment of something that is important to you that you feel genuinely fulfilled and happy. Everyone wants to be a “winner.” They want to be seen and thought of as a winner by others. How do you achieve this?
Simple–you win!
WHAT Is WINNING?
In running when you cross the finish line before any of the other runners, you win. In life you win when you start and complete your most important tasks on time and, ideally, before anyone else – you cross the finish line first. As a result you feel wonderful about yourself. Your brain releases endorphins, nature’s “happy drug,” which gives you an overall sense of peace and well-being. You feel like a winner.
GET STARTED AND KEEP GOING
In its simplest terms, your ability to get started and to keep going until you complete those things that are most important to you and to your company is the key to winning, to happiness, to a great reputation, and to success in life.
